Electronic luggage ID tag

ABSTRACT

A programmable luggage tag comprising a programmable electronic visual display assembly including a display screen, a radio receiver, a processor operably connecting the display assembly with the radio receiver, the processor configured to permit programming of an image shown on the display screen in response to image commands received through the radio receiver, a unitary housing having first and second opposing major outer sides and first and second opposing minor outer sides arranged substantially perpendicularly to the first and second opposing major outer sides, the housing containing the display assembly, the radio receiver, and the processor, the first major outer side of the housing being substantially transparent, revealing the display screen, the housing configured to receive a cord through a first chamber integrally formed within the housing, and a planar flap fixedly connected with the second major outer side of the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electronic luggage tags, andparticularly to such tags which are reusable.

Travelers are encouraged or required by airlines to tag their suitcasesand other luggage to assist in owner identification. Many travelers usepermanent tags with personal information printed or hand written on thetags. Some bags and luggage are equipped with viewing compartmentsconfigured to receive a conventional business card carrying the sameinformation. Many airlines even provide travelers with disposable tagson which the travelers can provide personal identification and contactinformation if the traveler's bags do not include their own tags.

One drawback of such tags is that they are not integrated into airlinebaggage handling/management systems, which utilize special, machinereadable (optically scanned) disposable tags applied by the airlines toeach piece of baggage given over to the airline to transport.

Another drawback is that the machine readable disposable tags applied bythe airlines are not reusable. Discarded machine readable luggage tagscreate over a million pounds of waste per year.

It is desirable to provide a permanent luggage tag that could be usedrepeatedly by travelers, is capable of integration into carriers'baggage handling/management systems in place of single use, printedairline tags, and includes a durable method of connection to traveler'sluggage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is an programmable luggage tagcomprising a programmable electronic visual display assembly including adisplay screen, a radio receiver, a processor operably connecting thedisplay assembly with the radio receiver, the processor configured topermit programming of an image shown on the display screen in responseto image commands received through the radio receiver, a unitary housinghaving first and second opposing major outer sides and first and secondopposing minor outer sides arranged substantially perpendicularly to thefirst and second opposing major outer sides, the housing containing thedisplay assembly, the radio receiver, and the processor, the first majorouter side of the housing being substantially transparent, revealing thedisplay screen, the housing configured to receive a cord through a firstchamber integrally formed within the housing, and a planar flap fixedlyconnected with the second major outer side of the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofa preferred embodiment of the invention, will be better understood whenread in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodimentwhich is presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that theinvention is not limited to the precise arrangements andinstrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a luggage tag in accordance with afirst preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are left and right side elevational views of the luggagetag of FIG. 1, respectively;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the luggage tag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the luggage tag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded, front perspective view of the luggage tag of FIG.1;

FIG. 7 is another top plan view of the luggage tag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the luggage tag of FIG.1, taken along the line A-A of FIG. 7, wherein the lever and stop of thetag are engaged.

FIG. 9 is another top plan view of the luggage tag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the luggage tag of FIG.1, taken along the line B-B of FIG. 9, wherein the lever and stop of thetag are disengaged;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the luggage tag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the luggage tag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is an alternative front perspective view of the luggage tag ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an another rear perspective view of the luggage tag of FIG.1; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of the electrical componentsassociated with the programmable bistable electronic display of theluggage tag of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenienceonly and is not limiting. Unless specifically set forth herein, theterms “a”, “an” and “the” are not limited to one element but insteadshould be read as meaning “at least one”. The words “right,” “left,”“lower,” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to whichreference is made. The words “inwardly” or “distally” and “outwardly” or“proximally” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, thegeometric center or orientation of the device and related parts thereof.The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof andwords of similar import.

Referring to FIGS. 1-15, a preferred embodiment of a programmableluggage ID tag 10 has two distinct components, including a first, rigidhollow unitary housing component or housing, generally indicated byreference numeral 12, and a second, resiliently flexible planaridentification flap component or flap, generally indicated by referencenumeral 14.

The housing 12 preferably includes a protective case 80. Referring toFIGS. 1-6, the case 80 is preferably a single-piece shell which ispreferably constructed of a relatively lightweight, high impact plastic,such as high-impact polystyrene (“HIPS”) or acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (“ABS”), a metal, such as an aluminum, or a combination orcomposite of polymer and metal pieces. The housing 12 further includes aprogrammable, electronic visual display assembly, indicated generally as60, with a display screen 62, a protective screen 61, and othercircuitry 70, which includes a supporting circuit board 72. Each of thedisplay screen 62, protective screen 61 and other circuitry 70 arepreferably received and housed in or on the case 80. The display screen62 is visible through the substantially transparent protective screen61. The protective screen 61 is preferably constructed of polycarbonatematerials and is preferably additionally coated with one or moreprotective and reflection resistant (anti-glare) coatings to enhancereadability of the display 60 by optical scanners or the like, but isnot limited to constructions utilizing such materials or to inclusion ofthe described coatings. The protective screen 61 is preferably bonded tothe display screen 62 through any suitable methods and techniques, suchas with a silicone gel or other adhesive. The display screen 62 ispreferably bonded to the circuit board 72 through any suitable methodsand techniques, such as with a silicone gel or other adhesive. Thedisplay assembly 60 is preferably secured to the case 80 via a laserwelding process, but may alternatively be secured to the case 80 by asnap fit, fasteners, hook and loop material, clamping, adhesive bondingor other such methods or techniques.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the flap 14 of the preferred tag 10 is a planarsheet preferably formed of a flexible polymer, more preferably amicroporous material like PPG Industries' Teslin®. The flap 14 functionsas or contains at least one radio frequency identification (“RFID”)transponder assembly, which is provided by an antenna and resonantcircuitry (not shown). Preferably, the flap 14 or RFID transponderassembly is passive with an ultra-high operating radio frequency(“UHF”). The passive RFID transponder assembly of the flap 14 ispreferably powered only from an external interrogation signal. The flap14 is preferably coated with or bonded to a polyester film (not shown)to provide additional strength, wear, and soil resistance properties tothe outer surface of the flap 14. However, other non-porous polymersheet materials such as polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) or polycarbonate(“PC”) may be considered or preferred based on designer or consumerpreferences. The construction of polyester or other polymer filmspreferably gives the flap 14 the thickness and flexible resilience of aconventional credit or debit card. In contrast to the case 80, the flap14 preferably has a stiffness with respect to force applied againsteither of its major planar surfaces less than any given stiffness of thecase 80 with respect to force applied to its closed major outer side.The flap 14 is also preferably thinner than any given thickness of thecase 80.

The RFID transponder assembly of the flap 14 may be assigned a uniquepermanent identification code to uniquely identify the assembly. Theidentification code is loaded into non-volatile memory of the assembly,is non-alterable, and is transmitted by the assembly in response to anexternal interrogation signal to identify the assembly to theinterrogator upon request. Such identification can be used by a travelerto identify the luggage tag using a suitable device, such as asmartphone, to then initiate connection to the other circuitry 70 asdescribed herein. The identification can also be used in conjunctionwith baggage handling systems at airports around the world to allow atraveler to track the progress of his or her luggage along its journey.Airports equipped with such technology have devices capable ofinterrogating the RFID signals of the luggage tag 10 at various placesthroughout the airport's luggage handling system, which can beconfigured to send alerts to travelers notifying the traveler as his orher luggage passes certain points in the airport via electronic mail,SMS, or any other suitable means of communication.

The flap 14 is secured to the case 80, preferably by one or moremechanical connections, welds, or adhesive bonding, but is not solimited and may be otherwise fixedly secured to the case 80 by clamping,fastening or other methods and techniques. The flap 14 is alsopreferably held in place by a number of hollow posts 84 to be receivedin a number of openings or flap holes 85 provided through a proximal endportion of the flap 14.

Separating the RFID transponder assembly in the flap 14 from the displayassembly 60 and the circuit board 72 in the case 80 provides severalbenefits. Such separation permits the separate manufacture of the flap14 by conventional, high speed, lower cost, cold lamination and printingprocesses typically used in credit/debit card and RFID tag and cardmanufacture industries. The flap 14 can be manufactures withoutsubjecting it to the temperatures and pressures of the injection moldingprocesses used to manufacture the hard polymer case 80, in which RFIDtransponder assemblies have been installed by others. Such separation isalso beneficial to minimize possible interference between the RFIDtransponder assembly in the flap 14 and the display 60 and othercircuitry 70 in the case 80. This type of interference could negativelyimpact the effective range of the RFID transponder in the flap 14.

Teslin® is a microvoided/microporous polysilicate sheet material of thetype described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,644, the contents ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein. A copy of the patent isattached to this application as Appendix A. This polysilicate materialis very porous with an essentially uniform porosity throughout ofgreater than thirty percent (30%) by volume, more typically forty-fiveto sixty percent (45-60%) in commercial grades, and with an average poresize of about one micron or less. Microvoided/microporous, polysilicatesheet material is suitable for various types of printing including laserprinting, although other commercially available, printable syntheticpaper products might be used as the RFID transponder of the flap 14.

Microporous polysilicate sheet material itself provides severaladditional distinct advantages. Such sheet material is waterproof anddurable. The preferred microporous polysilicate material wraps andmechanically protects the RFID transponder of the flap 14 better thanany known non-porous polymer material or paper. The microporosity of theflexible polysilicate sheet material acts as a cushion and even permitsthe material to collapse/compress over a chip or other circuitry of theRFID assembly, thereby reducing inherent stress on the assembly. Theflexible polysilicate sheet material is also considerably more durablethan PVC and/or PE commonly used in RFID cards and tags, withstandingflexing and high mechanical pressure preferably without cracking,peeling or delaminating over wide operating and mechanical stressranges. Such properties preferably increase the useful life of the flap14 several fold over tags made with other non-porous polymer corematerials and the flap 14 may be constructed of nearly any material thatis able to take on the size and shape of the flap 14, withstand thenormal operating conditions of the flap 14 and having similar propertiesas those described above.

A microporous polysilicate sheet further provides enhanced electricalperformance properties including a two to three decibel (2-3 dB)increase in radio frequency (“RF”) signal propagation read range, whichtranslates into approximately doubling the operating range of the RFIDtransponder assembly of the flap 14 compared to an identical assemblyembedded in conventional, non-porous polymer (e.g. PC, PVC orpolyethylene terephthalate (“PET”)) materials. It also provides fasterstatic decay times and has lower surface resistivity than PVC, PET andPC, thereby providing superior static dissipative qualities comparedwith PVC and/or PE core materials typically used in RFID tags.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6 and 15, the display assembly 60 and othercircuitry 70 housed in the case 80 are depicted in functional schematicblock diagram form in FIG. 15. The display assembly 60 includes, inaddition to the physical screen 62, driver circuitry 64 that is used togenerate the image resident on the screen 62. The other circuitry 70includes a manual input device 73 that activates the remainder of theother circuitry 70 for programming/reprogramming of the image on thedisplay 60. The input device 73 is preferably a mechanical switch thatprovides tactile feedback to the user, but capacitive switches and othertypes of devices may also be used. The input device 73 preferably causeselectricity from an on-board battery power supply or battery 79 to passthrough a power module 75, which is configured to generate power atappropriate voltages to operate the remaining circuit components and tointerface with the driver circuitry 64 of the display 60. The remainingcomponents include at least a wireless signal receiver 76 operablyconnected with an antenna 77. Either or both of the wireless signalreceiver 76 and antenna 77 may optionally be located within the flap 14for communication with a user's smart phone or other device. It will beappreciated that the other circuitry 70 includes at least one processorfor controlling operation of the other components of the circuitry toprogram/reprogram the display assembly 60. It will further beappreciated that the control function may be divided among severalprocessors, each performing limited functions. For example, the wirelesssignal receiver 76 may include a micro control unit (“MCU”) to interfacewith the source of wireless/radio image control signals transmitted tothe tag 10 to program/reprogram the display 60. A coding engine (DATACoder) 78 may be provided as a separate module operably connectedbetween the wireless signal receiver 76 and the display driver circuitry64 with its own MCU configured to convert radio control signals receivedfrom the wireless control signal source (i.e. a smart device) throughthe receiver into command signals suitable for the driver circuitry 64.Alternatively, the receiver 76 and coding engine 78 might be combined ina single module with a single processor performing the necessaryfunctions or the driver circuitry 64 may be “smart”, with a processorconfigured to assume the functions of the coding engine 78 andconfigured so as to interface directly with the wireless signal receiver76

The electronic visual display assembly 60 is preferably a bistablepassive reflective display assembly like a sheet of flexible electronicpaper (“E-paper” or “e-ink”) or a “zero power” LCD display. Trulybistable visual displays generally require no continuing power tomaintain an image. If the display is bistable as preferred, the battery79 is preferably needed only to power the other circuitry 70 to receiveimage coding instructions and change the image of the display 60. Thebistable display 60, once programmed or reprogrammed, retains its imagewithout further power usage. Under these conditions, a “coin” type cellbattery (not depicted) is preferably sufficient to power literallythousands of activations and display reprograms.

Types of commercially available, bistable displays include: cholestericliquid crystals (ChLC) on a flexible thin film, electrophoretic,electrowetting and electrofluidic displays using charged pigmentparticles, water oil mixtures and aqueous pigment dispersions,respectively. More recently, E Ink Corporation has made commerciallyavailable a variety of “electronic paper displays” (“EPD”), extremelythin and flexible, in both active (thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal)and segmented configurations that might be used. This list is suggestiveand not intended to be or to be considered to be all inclusive orotherwise exclusive. Moreover, while flexible displays are lighter andthinner, they are generally more expensive than glass mounted EPD's andthe latter provide can provide better contrast to improve opticalscanning accuracy.

Such displays can be externally programmed/reprogrammed to exhibitconventional luggage tag coded information normally provided by airlineson the paper tags currently used to identify and route passengerluggage. The present luggage tag coded information, including itineraryinformation and a carrier's baggage management system code number, apassenger name record (“PNR”), a reservation number or other uniquerecord identifier or locator used by the carrier to identify thepassenger and itinerary in a central data base used by the carrier, canbe displayed on the display 60. The tag 10 may include other variabledata (e.g. passenger name, number of checked bags or items, etc.) thatwould differ in content from tag to tag of different passengers or evenbetween tags of the same passenger.

The wireless image control signal source is a suitably configured andprogrammed smart device. Currently, smart phones are the wirelesscontrol signal sources of choice and Bluetooth Low Energy (“BLE”) is thesignal format of choice as virtually all smart phones becoming availableare equipped for at least BLE communication. However, other types of“short range” wireless communication formats might be used as analternative, for example, Near Field Communication (“NFC”) formats, andother short range communication formats that might become available inthe future.

It should be appreciated that the preferred tag 10 lacks direct publiccellular network and/or internet connectivity capability, through eithera public cellular network or a wireless local area network (i. e.WLAN/Wi-Fi). All such connectivity of the tag 10 is preferably through asmart phone or other public network connection enabled device that isalso enabled for short range communication with the tag. “Long range”communication refers to the normal inherent wireless communicationcapability provided to cell phones including smart phones to connectwith a wireless public cellular communication network. It is alsoincludes other private network communication capabilities that might beprovided in a cell phone or smart device such as Motorola MOTO talk, adirect radio communication capability, which typically has a range inthe kilometers. “Short range” communication refers to a separate,additional communication capability and format provided in certain smartphones and other smart devices having wireless public cellular, Wi-Fiand/or WLAN network communication capability. BLE communications aredesigned to have a nominal range of about fifty meters (50 m), half thatof conventional Bluetooth communication. NFC has a nominal range of afraction of a meter (practical working distance being reported to beabout four centimeters (4 cm) or about one twenty-fifth of a meter (1/25 m). Other short range, non-public, non-network wirelesscommunication protocols and equipment may become widely available in thefuture to supplant or upgrade Bluetooth, BLE and/or NFC and are intendedto be covered by the invention.

In use, an appropriate app is preferably provided by a carrier or otherthird party to a passenger to load into the passenger's smart phone orother smart device with public communication network capability. Whenthe passenger wants to program/reprogram the tag 10, the app isactivated in the smart device by the passenger to automatically contacta remote database designated by the carrier through the app, via apublic communication network accessible to the smart device, such as apublic cellular network or the internet. The app uniquely identifies thepassenger to the remote database. The remote database then identifiesand transfers to the smart phone/device, data from a currently orpreviously created itinerary stored in or available to the remotedatabase. The app then wirelessly transmits the display data from thesmart phone or other smart device in an appropriate format (preferablyBLE) to the RFID transponder assembly of the flap 14 and through theother circuitry 70 to update the display 60, which in turn displays theidentity and itinerary information in a machine readable format such asa bar code.

Referring to FIGS. 11-14, the housing 12 preferably has first and secondopposing major outer sides 40 and 41 arranged substantially parallel toone another. The first major outer side 40 is preferably substantiallytransparent to allow visual inspection of the display assembly 60. Thehousing 12 further preferably includes first and second minor outersides 44 and 45 arranged substantially parallel to one another andsubstantially perpendicularly to the opposing major outer sides 40 and41.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 8, 10, 12, and 14, the case 80 is preferablyconfigured to receive a cord 92 for fastening to a user's luggage. Thecord 92 is preferably a single length of elastomeric shock or “bungee”cord, but is not so limited. The cord 92 can be inserted into a firsthole 94 on the first minor outer side 44. The first hole 94 leads to afirst chamber 98. On the opposing end of the first chamber 98 is ahollow post 84 on the second major outer side 41. The first chamber 98is formed as a hollow space within the case 80, sealed on all sides bythe case 80 except the first hole 94 at one end and the hollow post 84at the opposing end. Having passed through the first hole 94 and firstchamber 98 and out of a hollow post 84, the cord 92 can then be fedthrough another of the hollow posts 84 on the second major outer side41, which leads to a second chamber 99 which has a second hole 95 on thesecond minor outer side 45. Preferably, the hollow posts 84 are alignedwith the flap holes 85 such that the cord 92 passes through the posts 84and the flap holes 85 simultaneously, forming a “C” shape outside of thecase 80 and thereby providing additional force binding the flap 14against the second major outer side 41 of the case 80. Having been fedout of the second hole 95, the remaining length of the cord 92 thatextends from the second hole 95 can be fastened to the user's luggage inwhatever method the user chooses, such as by tying a knot around ahandle of the luggage or attachment to a key ring. The cord 92 ispreferably a length sufficient to allow six inches (6″) or more of thecord 92 to extend from the second hole 95 to more easily allow a user toattach the cord 92 to his or her luggage.

The first chamber 98 is preferably configured to be approximately twiceas wide as the cord 92, while the second chamber 99 is preferablyconfigured to be approximately equal to the width of the cord 92. Theextra width of the first chamber 98 can preferably accommodate measuresto prevent the cord from being fully pulled through the first chamber98, such as by folding over the end of the cord 92 and fastening it witha staple 93. Instead of the staple 93, the folded end of the cord 92 maybe fastened with glue, thread, or the like or by tying it the end of thecord 92 in a knot.

The case 80 also preferably includes a cord locking mechanism 100, 102for locking the cord 92 in place in or near the second chamber 99. Asshown in the preferred embodiment in FIGS. 7-10, the locking mechanismis preferably comprised of a pivoting lever 100 and a stop 102. The stop102 preferably includes means, such as teeth or knurling, for engagingthe cord 92 within the second chamber 99 and locking the cord 92 inplace, but is not so limited and may include nearly any mechanism thatperforms the engagement function. In use, a user can toggle or pivot thelever 100 from an open position, shown in FIG. 10, to a closed position,shown in FIG. 8. In the closed position, the lever 100 presses the stop102 into the second chamber 99 and into engagement with the cord 92 tolock the cord 92 into place. The user can then release the lever 100 ifhe or she desires to remove the cord 92 from the remainder of the tag10. The cord 92 is not limited to being connected to the case 80 usingthe stop 102 and lever 100 configuration and may be otherwise secured toor integrally formed with the case 80, such as by fastening, clamping,adhesive bonding, co-molding or other related methods, techniques ormechanisms.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiment described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the present disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A programmable luggage tag comprising: aprogrammable electronic visual display assembly including a displayscreen; a radio receiver; a processor operably connecting the displayassembly with the radio receiver, the processor configured to permitprogramming of an image shown on the display screen in response to imagecommands received through the radio receiver; a unitary housing havingfirst and second opposing major outer sides and first and secondopposing minor outer sides arranged substantially perpendicularly to thefirst and second opposing major outer sides, the housing containing thedisplay assembly, the radio receiver, and the processor, the first majorouter side of the housing being substantially transparent, revealing thedisplay screen, the housing configured to receive a cord through a firstchamber integrally formed within the housing; and a planar flap fixedlyconnected with the second major outer side of the housing.
 2. Theprogrammable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the flap includes a radiofrequency identification transponder assembly.
 3. The programmableluggage tag of claim 1, wherein the first opposing minor outer side ofthe housing includes a hole through which a first end of the firstchamber is accessible.
 4. The programmable luggage tag of claim 3,wherein the second major outer side of the housing includes a hollowtube through which a first end of a second chamber is accessible.
 5. Theprogrammable luggage tag of claim 4, wherein the flap further includes ahole substantially aligned with the hollow tube of the second majorouter side of the housing.
 6. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1,further comprising: a second chamber integrally formed within thehousing for receiving the cord.
 7. The programmable luggage tag of claim6, wherein the first opposing minor outer side of the housing includes ahole through which a first end of the first chamber is accessible, thesecond opposing minor outer side includes a hole through which a firstend of the second chamber is accessible, the second major outer side ofthe housing includes a first hollow tube through which a second end ofthe first chamber is accessible and a second hollow tube through which asecond end of the second chamber is accessible, the flap furtherincludes first and second holes substantially aligned with the first andsecond hollow tubes of the second major outer side of the housing. 8.The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, further comprising: a cordlocking mechanism configured to activate an engagement mechanism whichlocks the cord into place within the luggage tag.
 9. The programmableluggage tag of claim 1, wherein the housing has a housing stiffness andthe flap has a flap stiffness, the flap stiffness being less than thehousing stiffness.
 10. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, whereinthe housing is constructed of a material selected from the groupconsisting of a polymeric material, a metal material, a combination ofmetal pieces, a combination of high impact plastic pieces, a combinationof metal and plastic pieces, an assembly of metal and polymericcomponents.
 11. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein thedisplay screen is constructed of a polycarbonate material.
 12. Theprogrammable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the housing furthercontains a battery and an input device exposed from the case for manualoperation, the input device being configured to operably connect thebattery with at least the processor and the radio receiver.
 13. Theprogrammable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the radio receiver and theprocessor are configured for Bluetooth communication.
 14. Theprogrammable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the radio frequencyidentification transponder assembly is configured for Ultra HighFrequency operation.
 15. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1,wherein the radio frequency identification transponder assembly iselectrically isolated from the housing.
 16. The programmable luggage tagof claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification transponderassembly is passive and powered only from an external interrogationsignal.
 17. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the displayassembly includes a bistable display.